NORTH CAROLINA, USA — One person in North Carolina has been sickened by listeria, likely linked to a nationwide outbreak tied to Boar's Head ready-to-eat products, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The person is one of 34 people in 13 states to show symptoms of listeria. At least two people have died, according to the CDC. Nearly all of those who fell ill have been hospitalized. Illnesses were reported between late May and mid-July.
It comes as Boar's Head expands its recall to an additional seven million pounds of ready-to-eat liverwurst, ham, beef salami, bologna and other products made at the firm’s Jarratt, Virginia, plant. It follows an earlier recall of more than 200,000 pounds of sliced deli poultry and meat. The new items include meat intended to be sliced at delis as well as some packaged meat and poultry products sold in stores.
The problem was discovered when a liverwurst sample collected by health officials in Maryland tested positive for listeria. Further testing showed that the type of bacteria was the same strain causing illnesses in people.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we decided to immediately and voluntarily expand our recall to include all items produced at the Jarratt facility,” the company said on its website. It has also halted production of ready-to-eat foods at the plant.
The meat was distributed to stores nationwide, as well as to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama, Agriculture Department officials said.
Consumers who have the recalled products in their homes should not eat them and should discard them or return them to stores for a refund, company officials said. Health officials said refrigerators should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to prevent contamination of other foods.
Listeria infections typically cause fever, muscle aches and tiredness and may cause stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Symptoms can occur quickly or for up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food. The infections are especially dangerous for people older than 65, those with weakened immune systems and during pregnancy.